S
* SAS: Serial Attached SCSI
* SATA: Serial ATA
* SCA: Single Connector Attachment
* SCADA: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
* Scalar Processor
* SCAM: SCSI Configuration Automatically
* Scanner
* Scratchpad RAM
* Screen Flicker
* Screen Phone
* SCSI: Small Computer System Interface
* SD Card: Secure Digital Card
* SDRAM: Synchronous DRAM
* SDTV: Standard-definition television
* SECAM
* Secondary Cache
* Secondary Memory
* Semiconductor
* Sempron
* Serial Device
* Serial Interface
* Serial Mouse
* Serial Port
* Server
* Server Blade
* Server Farm
* SGRAM: Synchronous Graphic Random Access Memory
* Sheet Feeder
* Sheetfed Scanner
* SIMD: Single Instruction Multiple Data
* SIMM: Single In-line Memory Module
* Single Electron Transistor
* Signal Processor
* Single-Hub Cartridge
* SIPP: Single In-line Pin Package
* SISD: Single Instruction Single Data
* SLDRAM: Synchronous Link DRAM
* Slot
* Slot 1
* Slot 2
* Slotket
* Smart Terminal
* SMP: Symmetric Multiprocessing
* Snapshot Printer
* Snooping Protocol
* SoC: System-on-a-Chip
* Socket
* Socket 370
* Socket 423
* Socket 478
* Socket 603
* Socket 604
* Socket 7
* Socket 754
* Socket 8
* Socket 940
* Socket A (Socket 462)
* Socket T
* SODIMM: Small Outline DIMM
* Software Modem
* SOI: Silicon-On-Insulator
* SOJ: Small-Outline J-lead
* Sound Card
* Sound Forge
* Southbridge
* SPARC: Scalable Processor Architecture
* SPI: Serial Peripheral Interface
* SRAM: Static Random Access Memory
* Storage
* Storage Area Network (SAN)
* Storage Device
* Storage Server
* Store-and-Forward Switch
* STP: Shielded Twisted Pair
* Strain Relief
* Sun Microsystems
* Supercomputer
* Superscalar
* Superpipelined
* Supertwist display
* Supertwist
* Switch
* Switch Router
* Switching Hub
* System Bus
* System Unit
SAS: Serial Attached SCSI
Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) is an evolutionary replacement for the Parallel SCSI physical storage interface. Serial Attached SCSI offers much faster communication and easier configuration. In addition, Serial Attached SCSI provides device compatibility to Serial ATA and uses similar cabling.
SATA: Serial ATA
Serial ATA, also known as SATA or S-ATA, is a computer bus primarily designed for transfer of data to and from a hard disk. It is the successor to the legacy Advanced Technology Attachment standard (ATA, also known as IDE). This older technology is now known as Parallel ATA (PATA) to distinguish it from Serial ATA.
SCA: Single Connector Attachment
Single Connector Attachment (SCA) is a type of disk drive connector that includes connection pins for the power cables as well as the data wires. The current version of SCA, called SCA-2, uses 80 pins and is frequently used for high-end SCSI devices.
SCADA: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) is a system that collects data from sensors locally or in remote locations and sends them to a central computer for management and control. SCADA systems are used in industrial and civil engineering applications to control distributed systems from a master location. SCADA is a very broad umbrella that describes solutions across a large variety of industries, including but not limited to the following: * Electric power generation, transmission and distribution* Environmental control systems* Traffic signals* Water management systems* Mass transit systems* Manufacturing systems
Scalar Processor
Scalar processor allows a computer to perform arithmetic computations on one number at a time, in cotrast to vector processor and superscalar processor.
SCAM: SCSI Configuration Automatically
SCSI Configuration Automatically (SCAM) is a subset of the Plug and Play (PnP) specification to provide support for SCSI devices.
scanner
Scanner has the following definistons: 1) in a telecommunication network, a device in an electronic switching office that scans various parts of the switching network to determine when some change in operations is occurring. 2) an input device that reads images or text and converts the data into digital signals. There are a few types of scanners. Graphical scanners read photos or other images into the computer and digitize them, producing bitmapped graphics files. Text scanners use optical character recognition software to read pages of text and produce editable text files. Bar code scanners, as used in stores, convert bar codes into digital information.
scratchpad RAM
Scratchpad RAM is a portion of L1 cache reserved for direct and private usage by the CPU. The CPU can use scratchpad RAM for any purpose, such as storing instructions or intermediate values. A use of scratchpad RAM is similar to a cache. Instead of the no-wait-state memory being a variation of most recently used (and thus most likely to be used again next), the scratchpad contains data or program code that is known to be speed critical.
screen flicker
Screen flicker refers to a display screen that appears to flicker, which results from a variety of factors such as the monitor's refresh rate. If the refresh rate is too slow, the screen will appear to glimmer. Another factor is the persistence of the screen phosphors. Low-persistence phosphors fade more quickly than high-persistence monitors, making screen flicker more likely. Screen flicker can also be affected by lighting.
screen phone
Screen phone is a device that looks similar to a standard desk telephone, but is equipped with a screen (LCD screen) to display communication information such as caller ID. It may also include a small keyboard for the Internet access.
SCSI: Small Computer System Interface
Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), an ANSI standard, is a parallel interface standard used by Apple Macintosh computers, PCs, and many UNIX systems for attaching peripheral devices to computers. SCSI interfaces provide for faster data transmission rates than standard serial and parallel ports. In addition, you can attach many devices to a single SCSI port. There are many variations of SCSI: SCSI-1, SCSI-2, SCSI-3 and the recently approved standard Serial Attached SCSI (SAS).
SD Card: Secure Digital Card
Secure Digital Card (SD Card) is a stamp sized flash memory card designed to provide high security and high-capacity memory. SD cards are used in many small portable devices such as digital music players, cellular phones, handheld PCs (HPCs), digital cameras, digital video camcorders, smart phones, car navigation systems and electronic books.
SDRAM: Synchronous DRAM
Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), an improved type of DRAM, can run at much higher clock speeds than conventional DRAM. Whilst DRAM has an asynchronous interface, meaning that it reacts immediately to changes in its control inputs, SDRAM has a synchronous interface, meaning that it waits for a clock pulse before responding to its control inputs. The clock is used to drive an internal finite state machine that can pipeline incoming commands. This allows the chip to have a more complex pattern of operation than plain DRAM.
SDTV: Standard-definition television
Standard-definition television (SDTV) refers to television systems that have a resolution that meets standards but not considered high definition. The term is usually used in reference to digital television, in particular when broadcasting at the same (or similar) resolution as analog systems. In ATSC, SDTV can be broadcast in 704 pixels × 480 lines with 16:9 aspect ratio (40:33 rectangular pixel), 704 pixels × 480 lines with 4:3 aspect ratio (10:11 rectangular pixel) or 640 pixels × 480 lines with 4:3 ratio (and square pixels). The refresh rate can be any of 24, 30 or 60 pictures per second.
SECAM
SECAM is an analog color television system first used in France, utilizing an 8 MHz-wide modulated signal. There are three varieties of SECAM: French SECAM (SECAM-L), used in France and its former colonies; SECAM-B/G, used in the Middle East, former East Germany and Greece; SECAM D/K, used in the Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe.
secondary cache
Secondary cache, also known as L2 cache or RAM cache, is the cache memory external to the CPU. Secondary cache memory resides on a separate chip from the microprocessor chip. L2 cache contains a subset of the contents of main memory. The design of the memory and L2 cache is a significant way designers differentiate their systems.
secondary memory
Secondary memory, also known as secondary storage, is the slower and cheaper form of memory. CPU does not acces the secondary memory directly. The content in it must first be copied into the primary storage RAM for CPU to process. Secondary memory devices include hard drives, floppy disks, CDs and CDROMs etc.
semiconductor
Semiconductor is a material that is neither a good conductor of electricity nor a good insulator. A semiconductor behaves as an insulator at very low temperature, and has an appreciable electrical conductance at room temperature. A semiconductor can be distinguished from a conductor by the fact that, at absolute zero, the uppermost filled electron energy band is fully filled in a semiconductor, but only partially filled in a conductor. A semiconductor has a band gap which is small enough such that its conduction band is appreciably thermally populated with electrons at room temperature, whilst an insulator has a band gap which is too wide for there to be appreciable thermal electrons in its conduction band at room temperature. The most common semiconductor materials are silicon and germanium. These materials are then doped to create an excess or lack of electrons.
Sempron
Sempron is AMD's low-end CPU for desktop and mobile computing. It replaces the AMD Duron processor, and competes against Intel's Celeron D processor. Initial variants of Sempron were based on the Athlon XP's Thoroughbred/Thorton Core, with a 256 KB L2-Cache and 166 MHz Front side bus (FSB 333). The later introduced Sempron 3000+ is based on the Barton core and has 512 KB of L2-Cache.
serial device
Serial device is a hardware unit that is connected to a computer by plugging it into the serial port; for example, a modem, a keyboard, or a serial printer.
serial interface
Serial interface, also known as serial port, is a port on the computer that transmits data in serial form (bit by bit), as opposed to a parallel interface which sends a number of bits at the same time. Within the computer, data is transmitted over parallel lines.The serial interface converts data from a parallel to a serial form for sending to the serial devices such as a modem, mouse, scanner or some serial priners.
serial mouse
Serial mouse is the most common type of mouse which connects to a computer via a serial port. A serial mouse can be easily identified by the rectangular-shaped connector at the end of its cable. The other common type of mouse is a PS/2 mouse, which plugs into a PS/2 mouse port.
serial port
Serial port, also known as serial interface, is a port on the computer that transmits data in serial form (bit by bit), as opposed to a parallel interface which sends a number of bits at the same time. Within the computer, data is transmitted over parallel lines.The serial interface converts data from a parallel to a serial form for sending to the serial devices such as a modem, mouse, scanner or some serial priners.
server
Server is a computer or other network device that stores all necessary information and is dedicated to provide a particular service. For example, a database server would store all data and software related to a certain database and allows other network devices to access and process database queries. A file server is a computer and storage device dedicated to storing files for any user on the network to store files on the server. A print server is a device that manages one or more printers, and a networkserver is a computer that manages network traffic.
server blade
Server blade, also known as blade server, is a collection of a number of individual minimally-packaged computer motherboard "blades", each including one or more processors, memory, storage, and network connections, but sharing the common power supply and air-cooling resources of the chassis. The idea behind blade servers is that by placing many blades in a single (typically rack-mounted) housing, created systems can be more compact and powerful, but less expensive than traditional systems based on mainframes, or server farms of individual computers. Blade servers are ideal for specific purposes such as web hosting and cluster computing. Individual blades are typically hot-swappable.
server farm
A server farm is a collection of computer servers usually maintained by an enterprise to accomplish server needs far beyond the capability of one machine. Often, server farms will have both a primary and a backup server allocated to a single task, so that in the event of the failure of the primary server, a backup server will take over the primary server's function. Server farms are commonly used for cluster computing and web hosting.
SGRAM: Synchronous Graphic Random Access Memory
Synchronous Graphic Random Access Memory (SGRAM) is a specialized form of SDRAM for graphics adaptors. It adds functions such as bit masking and block write to increase bandwidth for graphics-intensive functions. SGRAM can synchronize itself with the CPU bus clock up to speeds of 100 MHz.
sheet feeder
Sheet feeder, also called cut-sheet feeder, is a component that holds a stack of paper and automatically feeds each sheet into a printer one by one. Sheet feeders are often built into printers, fax machines and optical scanners.
sheetfed scanner
Sheetfed scanner feeds each sheet of paper across a nonmoving scan head. Many portable picture and business card and document scanners are design based on the sheetfed scanner. On the other hand, the flatbed scanner in which the paper is laid on a sheet of glass and the scan head moves.
SIMD: Single Instruction Multiple Data
Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) is a set of operations for efficiently handling large quantities of data in parallel, as in a vector processor or array processor. First popularized in large-scale supercomputers (as opposed to MIMD parallelization), smaller-scale SIMD operations have now become widespread in personal computer hardware. Today the term is associated almost entirely with these smaller units.
SIMD: Single Instruction Multiple Data
Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) is a set of operations for efficiently handling large quantities of data in parallel, as in a vector processor or array processor. First popularized in large-scale supercomputers (as opposed to MIMD parallelization), smaller-scale SIMD operations have now become widespread in personal computer hardware. Today the term is associated almost entirely with these smaller units.
SIMM: Single In-line Memory Module
Single In-line Memory Module (SIMM) is a circuit board that can hold a group of memory chips (Typically, eight (on Macintoshes) or nine (on PCs) RAM chips). On PCs, the ninth chip is often used for parity error checking. SIMMs are measured in bytes. Memory modules evolved from the need of saving motherboard space and effortless memory expansion. Instead of plugging 8 or 9 single DRAM chips, you could now simply add one memory module to increase the memory of the computer instantly.
single electron transistor
The single electron transistor (SET) uses controlled electron tunneling to amplify current. SET can be used as the most sensitive device for measuring electric charge, or as a type of switching device. A SET is made from two tunnel junctions that share a common electrode. A tunnel junction consists of two pieces of metal separated by a very thin (~1 nm) insulator. The only way for electrons in one of the metal electrodes to travel to the other electrode is to tunnel through the insulator. Since tunneling is a discrete process, the electric charge that flows through the tunnel junction flows in multiples of e, the charge of a single electron.
Signal Processor
Signal Processor is an electronic circuit that removes information from an analog signal as quantifiable units for further analysys. Most modern Signal Processors are either dedicated microprocessor integrated circuits or general-purpose programmable microprocessors.
single-hub cartridge
Single-hub cartridge is a tape cartridge that uses only one spindle and reel. The tape is pulled out of the cartridge and attached to a takeup reel inside the drive.
SIPP: Single In-line Pin Package
Single In-line Pin Package (SIPP), also called Single In-lin Pin (SIP), is an integrated circuit package with a single line of pins.
SISD: Single Instruction Single Data
Single Instruction Single Data (SISD) is a computing term referring to an architecture in which a single processor executes a single instruction stream, to operate on data stored in a single memory.
SLDRAM: Synchronous Link DRAM
Synchronous Link DRAM (SLDRAM) is an enhanced version of SDRAM that uses a multiplexed bus to transfer data to and from chips rather than fixed pin settings.
slot
In computers, a slot, also called expansion slot, refers to an opening in a computer where you can insert a printed circuit board. Slots allow you to expand the capabilities of a computer by insert add-on boards, such as PCMCIA cards, into expansion slots.
Slot 1
Slot 1, also known as a SEC (Single Edge Contact) or SEPP, is a type of slot on a motherboard for a Pentium II or Pentium III processor and SEC Celeron processor to fit into. The Slot 1 package replaces the Socket 7 and Socket 8 form factors used by previous Pentium processors. Slot 1 is a 242-contact daughtercard slot that accepts a microprocessor packaged as a Single Edge Contact (SEC) cartridge. A motherboard can have one or two Slot 1s.
Slot 2
Slot 2 refers to the physical and electrical specification for the 330-lead edge-connector used by some of Intel's microprocessors, including the Pentium III and Xeon. The biggest difference between Slot 1 and Slot 2, though, is that the Slot 2 design allows the CPU to communicate with the L2 cache at the CPU's full clock speed. In contrast, Slot 1 only supports communication between the L2 cache and CPU at half the CPU's clock speed.
slotket
Slotket, also called a slocket or a riser, is an adapter that accepts socket 370 CPUs into Slot 1 motherboards. They were popular for inserting Socket 370 Intel Celerons into Slot 1 based motherboards to build computers at a lower cost, especially with dual processor machines. They were also popular in the transition period from Slot to Socket based Pentium III processors by allowing people to keep their old Slot 1 motherboards but use newer Socket-based processors.
smart terminal
Smart terminal has some processing capabilities with built-in logic for performing simple display operations, such as blinking and boldface. In contrast, a dumb terminal has no processing capabilities at all. The development of workstations and personal computers has made this term and the type of product semi-obsolescent, but one may still hear variants of the phrase act like a smart terminal used to describe the behavior of workstations or PCs with respect to programs that execute almost entirely out of a remote server's storage, using local devices as displays.
SMP: Symmetric Multiprocessing
Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) is a multiprocessor computer architecture where two or more identical processors are connected to a single shared main memory. Most common multiprocessor systems today use a SMP architecture. SMP systems allow any processor to work on any task no matter where the data for that task is located in memory; with proper operating system support, SMP systems can easily move tasks between processors to balance the work load efficiently.
snapshot printer
Snapshot printer, also known as photo printer, is designed to print photographic-quality snapshots or photos in colors. Most snapshot printers require special paper and use dye sublimation, thermal transfer technologies to produce a vivid 24-bit color.
snooping protocol
Snooping protocol, also known as a bus-snooping protocol, is for maintaining cache coherency in symmetric multiprocessing environments. The basic idea behind this protocol is that writes to a location invalidate other caches' copies of the block and reads by other processors on invalidated data cause cache misses. If two processors write at the same time, one wins and obtains exclusive access.
SoC: System-on-a-chip
System-on-a-chip (SoC) is a technology that packages of all the necessary electronic circuits and parts for a complete "system" on a single integrated circuit (IC). A complete system typically includes the central processor, the memory and peripheral electronics. SoC is evolving along with other technologies such as silicon-on-insulator (SOI), which can provide increased clock speeds while reducing the power consumed by a microchip.
socket
In pure hardware, socket is a connecting place or junction for electric wires, plugs and light bulbs. In TCP/IP communication, sockets are the combination of IP address plus corresponding TCP/UDP port numbers. Every pair of connected socket has a source IP/port and a destination IP/port. Users of Internet applications are normally aware of all except the local port number that is allocated when connection is established and is almost entirely arbitrary unlike the well-known port numbers associated with popular applications.
socket 370
Socket 370 refers to a prolific CPU socket first used by Intel for Celeron processors to replace the older Slot 1 CPU interface on personal computers. The "370" refers to the number of pins/holes in the socket. Modern Socket 370 fittings are usually found on Mini-ITX motherboards and embedded systems. If you still happen to use a Slot 1 motherboard, you can purchase a slotket, which will support socket 370 chips.
Socket 423
Socket 423 is a CPU socket which was used for the first Pentium 4 processors based on the Willamette core. However, it was short-lived as it quickly became apparent that it had inadequete electrical design, which would have not allowed many clock-speed to rise above 2.0GHz. It was replaced by Socket 478.
Socket 478
Socket 478 is a type of CPU socket used for Intel's Pentium 4 and Celeron series CPUs. Socket 478 is going away with the launch of LGA 775. (LGA stands for Land Grid Array, referring to the fact that the pins are on the motherboard.)
Socket 603
Socket 603 is a 603-contact CPU socket designed by Intel for Xeon procesors with 400MHz FSB. The socket has 603 contacts with solder balls/surface mount features for surface mounting with the motherboard. The 603 Pin Socket contacts have 50mil pitch with regular pin arrays, mate with 603 pins on the Intel Xeon processor package.
Socket 604
Socket 604 is a 603-contact CPU socket designed by Intel for Xeon procesors with 533MHz and 800 MHz FSB.
Socket 7
Socket 7 is a physical and electrical specification for the x86 processor socket matching the pins on Pentium microprocessors manufactured by Intel, and compatibles made by Cyrix, AMD and others. Any CPU chip conforming to this specification can be plugged into any conforming motherboard. It supersedes the Socket 5. Differences between the two are an extra pin on the Socket 7 and that the Socket 7 is designed to provide dual split rail voltage while the Socket 5 can only have a single voltage. Intel has phased out Socket 7 and replace it with Slot 1.
Socket 754
Socket 754 was originally developed by AMD to succeed its powerful Athlon XP platform. Socket 754 was the first socket developed by AMD to support their new consumer version of the 64 bit microprocessor family known as AMD64.
Socket 8
Socket 8 CPU socket was used exclusively with the Intel Pentium Pro and Pentium II OverDrive processors. Intel discontinued utilizing the socket in favor of Slot 1 upon the arrival of the Pentium II.
Socket 940
Socket 940 is a 940-pin socket for 64-bit AMD processors. The socket is completely covered with leads with no hole in the middle. There are four spots on the socket which do not have leads, and are used to align up the processor correctly. AMD Opterons and older AMD Athlon 64 FXs (FX-51 and FX-53) use Socket 940.
Socket A (Socket 462)
Socket A, also known as Socket 462, is used for AMD flagship processors ranging from the Athlon K7 to the Athlon XP 3200+, and AMD budget processors including the Duron and Sempron. The socket is a zero insertion force pin grid array type with 462 pins.
Socket T
Socket T, also known as Socket LGA 775, is Intel's CPU socket, in which the pins are on the motherboard, not the processor. The Prescott (Pentium 4 core) is the only processor to use the LGA 775 socket type, for now. Intel changed from Socket 478 to LGA 775 because Intel plans to offer a Front side bus of 1066 MHz and the new pin type has better power distribution to the processor. The 'T' in Socket T was derived from the now cancelled Tejas core, which was to replace the Prescott core.
SODIMM: Small Outline DIMM
Small Outline DIMM (SODIMM) is a type of computer memory integrated circuit which is an alternative to a DIMM. As a result of being roughly half the size of regular DIMMs, SO-DIMMs are often utilised in laptop computers.
software modem
Software modems, replace some of the hardware found on a conventional modem with software programs that run on the main system processor. Software modems rely on the computer's processor to modulate and demodulate signals.
SOI: Silicon-On-Insulator
Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI), developed by IBM, is a chipmaking technology that builds transistors on a thinner layer of silicon than previously possible, improving chip performance and reducing power consumption. SOI is a layered structure consisting of a thin layer of silicon, from 50 nm to 100 µm, which is created on an insulating substrate, which is usually sapphire or a silicon with an insulating layer of silicon dioxide 80 nm thick on its surface. This process reduces the amount of electrical charge that the transistor has to move during a switching operation, increasing speed (up to 15%) and reducing switching energy (up to 20%) over CMOS-based chips. SOI chips cost more to produce and are generally used for high-end applications.
SOJ: Small-Outline J-lead
Small-Outline J-lead (SOJ) is a type of chip module that uses J-shaped pins that extend inwards. An SOJ chip attaches directly to the circuit board's surface. SOJ is a common form of surface-mounted DRAM packaging.
sound card
Sound card, also called sound board or audio card, is an expansion card for the PC that generates sound and provides audio output to external amplification devices, such as speakers or headphones. Sound cards are necessary for nearly all CD-ROMs and have included in newer personal computers.
Sound Forge
Sound Forge is a software program of digital audio editor that includes a set of audio processes, tools, and effects for recording and manipulating audio in Windows OS. Together with a Windows-compatible sound card, it can create, record, and edit audio files. In addition, it has built-in support for video and CD burning and can save a number of audio and video file formats such as WAV, WMA, and mp3.
Southbridge
Southbridge, one of two chipsets in the Northbridge/Southbridge architecture, is an Intel chipset that manages the basic forms of input/output (I/O) such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), serial, audio, Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), and Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) I/O in a computer. Northbridge controls the processor, memory, Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, Level 2 cache, and all Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) activities.
SPARC: Scalable Processor Architecture
Scalable Processor Architecture (SPARC®) is a high-speed RISC microprocessor developed by Sun Microsystems. It is primarily used in Sun workstations, and has been adopted by some other computer vendors.
SPI: Serial peripheral Interface
Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) is a full-duplex synchronous serial interface for connecting low-/medium-bandwidth external devices using four wires. SPI devices communicate using a master/slave relationship over two data lines and two control lines. The SPI is most often employed in systems for communications between the central processing unit (CPU) and peripheral devices. It is also possible to connect two microprocessors by means of SPI.
SRAM: Static random access memory
Static random access memory (SRAM) is a type of memory faster and more reliable than the more common DRAM (dynamic RAM). The word "static" indicates that the memory retains its contents as long as power remains applied, unlike dynamic RAM (DRAM) that needs to be periodically refreshed. Fast SRAM is used where speed is the most important requirement, as in the cache of a CPU and in digital signal processing circuits. Slow, low-capacity SRAMs are used where low power consumption and low cost are the most important requirements, as in battery-powered backup RAM. SRAM is less dense than DRAM (fewer bits per unit area) and is therefore not suitable for high-capacity, low-cost applications such as PC extended memory.
storage
In computer, storage is the device to hold and retain data, even after electrical power to the computer is turned off. "Storage" is generally used for the slower forms. There are many types of computer storage: Magnetic storage such as hard disk, floppy disk and magnetic tapes, Optic storage such as CDROM, DVD ROM, and semiconductor storage such flash memory, etc.
Storage Area Network (SAN)
Storage Area Network (SAN) is a network of storage devices that are connected to each other and to a server, or cluster of servers, which act as an access point to the SAN. In some configurations a SAN is also connected to the network. SAN's use special switches as a mechanism to connect the devices. These switches, which look a lot like a normal Ethernet networking switch, act as the connectivity point for SAN's. Making it possible for devices to communicate with each other on a separate network brings with it many advantages.
storage device
In computer, storage device is typically refers to mass storage devices that is capable of storing large quantity of data, even after electrical power to the computer is turned off. There are many types of computer storage: Magnetic storage such as hard disk, floppy disk and magnetic tapes, Optic storage such as CDROM, DVD ROM, and semiconductor storage such flash memory, etc.
storage server
Storage server is high-capacity disk storage device or a computer that hosts files so that they may be accessed or retrieved by other computers on the same network. A network attached storage (NAS) device is a true storage server because it is dedicated to data access and nothing else. However, a file server, database server or video server could also be classified as a storage server if it is dedicated to storage and retrieval and performs no other functions. Storage servers often come in RAID configurations for performance and fault tolerance.
store-and-forward switch
Store-and-forward switch refers to a switching device that stores a complete incoming data packet before it is sent out. Such switches are used when incoming and outgoing speeds differ.
STP: Shielded twisted pair
Shielded twisted pair (STP) is a type of copper wiring used in Ethernet networks, especially fast data rate Ethernets. In the shielded twisted pair, each of the two copper wires that are twisted together are coated with an insulating coating that functions as a ground for the wires. The extra covering in shielded twisted pair wiring protects the transmission line from electromagnetic interference leaking into or out of the cable.
strain relief
Strain relief refers to telecommunications cables and PC cables, that are designed to move without cracking and/or breaking away from the plug or connector that connects to an electrical outlet or a hardware device. The strain relief is typically a series of ridges at the point where the cabling meets the connector or plug that allows flexibility in the cable without putting stress on that vulnerable point in the cord.
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems is a computer manufacturer based in California US that specializes in office networks, workstations, and servers running Solaris, a version of the UNIX operating system. Sun pioneered the concept of open systems such as Java, a platform-independent programming language.
supercomputer
Supercomputer refers to the very fast computer that is specialized for applications requiring immense amounts of mathematical calculations. The term supercomputer itself is rather fluid, and today's supercomputer tends to become tomorrow's also-ran. Typically, supercomputers are used in weather forecasting, animated graphics, fluid dynamic calculations, nuclear energy research, and petroleum exploration. As of March 25, 2005, the fastest supercomputer in a single installation is IBM's Blue Gene/L prototype, with 32,768 processors. It is capable of 135.5 TFLOPS. The Blue Gene/L prototype is a customized version of IBM's PowerPC architecture.
superscalar
A superscalar is a CPU architecture that implements a form of parallelism on a single chip, thereby allowing the system as a whole to run much faster than it would otherwise be able to at a given clock speed. A superscalar architecture allows a uniprocessor to execute two or more scalar operations in parallel. A superscalar processor is sort of a mixture of the scalar and vector architecture. Each instruction processes one data item, but there are multiple processing units so that multiple instructions can be processing separate data items at the same time.
Superpipelined
Superpipelined refers to a type of instruction pipeline technique used in the design of microprocessors and other digital electronic devices to increase their performance. Traditional pipelined architectures have a single pipeline stage for each of: instruction fetch, instruction decode, memory read, ALU operation and memory write. A superpipelined processor has a pipeline where each of these logical steps may be subdivided into multiple pipeline stages.
Supertwist display
Supertwist display, also known as supertwist nematic (STN) displays, twists light ray technique for improving LCD display screens. In addition to normal supertwist displays, there also exist double supertwist and triple supertwist displays. In general, the more twists, the higher the contrast.
supertwist
Supertwist display, also known as supertwist nematic (STN) displays, twists light ray technique for improving LCD display screens. In addition to normal supertwist displays, there also exist double supertwist and triple supertwist displays. In general, the more twists, the higher the contrast.
switch
A switch is a networking device that connects network segments. Technically, network switches operate at layer two (Data Link Layer) of the OSI model. They were developed from the electronic hub, where the hub provided a central nodal device for a star-configured network. In a shared hub, all star network connections receive a broadcast frame. A switch is similar to a hub in that it provides a single broadcast domain, but differs in that each port on a switch is its own collision domain. Generally, a switch contains more "intelligence" than a hub. Network switches are capable of inspecting the data packets as they are received, determining the source and destination device of that packet, and forwarding that packet appropriately.
switch router
Switch router, alsp known as Layer 3 switch, is a network device that forwards traffic based on layer 3 information at very high speeds. Switch router use the same routing algorithms as traditional routers do. However, Layer 3 switch performs its operations using application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) hardware, while a router does it using software in a microprocessor. A Layer 3 switch goes beyond the Layer 2 MAC addressing and routing. The Layer 3 switch looks at the incoming packet’s networking protocol. Layer 3 switching is more effectively used to segment a LAN than to provide a WAN connection. Traditionally, routers, which inspect layer 3, were considerably slower than layer 2 switches.
switching hub
Switching Hub, also known as port-switching hub, can forward packets to the specific port based on the packet's address, instead of simply rebroadcast every packet to every port as the conventional hub. Most switching hubs also support load balancing, so that ports are dynamically reassigned to different LAN segments based on traffic patterns.
system bus
System bus, also known as Front-Side-Bus (FSB), CPU bus, and host bus, is the bus between Processor (CPU) to system memory. The front side bus on a computer connects the processor to the north side bridge, which comprises the memory bus, PCI bus and AGP bus. In general, a faster frontside bus means higher processing speeds and a faster computer.
system unit
A system unit, also known as a base unit, is the main body of a computer, typically consisting of a plastic or metal enclosure and the motherboard. It often includes a power supply, cooling fans, internal disk drives, and the circuit boards that are plugged into the motherboard, such as video and network cards.